Page 26 of Ransom for His Secret Son

Brody didn’t say anything for a moment. He just tried to work through it all. “If Christina was a patient at the clinic and did what we think she did, she won’t admit it because she would be arrested. In fact, she’s likely hidden any evidence that could link her to the stolen embryo.”

Remi muttered some profanity and followed it with a groan of frustration. “You’re right. We won’t get that answer from her so there’s no reason to go back in and talk to her. But Dr. Langley might be willing to spill something, especially if it means pointing the finger at Christina and making himself look innocent.”

Yes, that was exactly what Brody was thinking as he started the engine, then plugged in the address to the clinic. It was only six miles away, and since it was already past nine in the evening, the city traffic probably wouldn’t slow them down.

Brody only hoped that Eloise had been right about the doctor working late and that Langley would still be there when they arrived. If not, they’d be paying Langley a visit at his home. Because Brody was certain that the doctor had some answers, and he was going to get them tonight. He had to find his son and bring him home.

The thought of his son stayed on Brody’s mind throughout the drive to Dr. Langley’s clinic. He’d been right about there being little traffic, so it wasn’t long before they pulled into the parking lot.

The building was large and sterile, like so many other medical complexes on the outskirts of San Antonio. A few lights still burned inside, but there were only two vehicles in the parking lot. Brody grabbed his phone and ran both plates. One came back registered to a local cleaning service, the other to Dr. Curt Langley.

His gut tightened. He’s still here.

He and Remi were about to climb out of the cruiser, but his phone sounded with an incoming text from Jolene. Brody cursed when he read the message.

“Mellie Freemont died from a drug overdose two days ago,” he relayed to Remi.

She did some cursing, too. “Murder?”

“Maybe. It’s under investigation.”

And her death could point to Tarrant. The man could be cleaning house of anyone who’d crossed him or wasn’t actively helping him. Either way, it meant the woman was literally a dead end. Maybe the cops would be able to find something in her possession that would help, but Brody wasn’t holding out much hope of that.

He sent off a short reply to Jolene, thanking her for the quick results, and they climbed out of the cruiser. As they approached the entrance, the cleaner—an older man in gray coveralls that sported the patch of the cleaning service—pushed through the doors, carrying a large black trash bag.

Brody stepped in front of the man, showing him his badge. “Sheriff Walker. We need access to Dr. Langley’s clinic.”

The man blinked, surprised, but he didn’t argue. “Yeah, sure. It’s just down the hall, suite 104.” He glanced over his shoulder behind him. “He’s still in there. Lights are on. I’m off shift now, but the doc knows how to lock up when he leaves. Remind him of it, though, will you?”

“We will,” Brody said as he and Remi stepped inside.

They walked down the hall with Remi close at his side. The soft thuds of their boots against the polished floor were the only sounds aside from the faint hum of the A/C. The door to Langley’s office was slightly ajar, and Brody pushed it open without knocking.

Dr. Langley was pacing behind a sleek glass reception desk, a phone pressed to his ear, his face flushed. His words were low, urgent, until he saw Brody and Remi standing in the doorway, that is.

Langley froze midstep, his eyes going wide for a split second before he fumbled to end the call. The phone slipped from his grip, clattering onto the desk. He didn’t bother picking it up. He also didn’t ask who they were, but then the doctor had met both of them several times during Miranda’s treatments.

“You need to leave,” Langley snapped. “I’ll call security.”

Brody stepped farther into the office and flashed his badge. “Go ahead. Call them. Then we can all take a nice trip down to San Antonio PD, where you can answer my questions in an interview room.”

Langley’s face paled, the bravado slipping as fast as it had come. His hand hovered over the phone for half a second before dropping to his side. His eyes darted from Brody to Remi, no doubt calculating his next move.

“What do you want?” he finally snapped out, the edge in his voice dulled by something else.

Fear.

Brody’s lips curled into something that wasn’t a smile. “Answers.”

He and Remi stepped inside, and when Brody closed the door, the soft click of it shutting made Langley flinch. The man was clearly wired. But why? That’s what Brody intended to find out.

Brody let the silence hang for a beat, just enough to make Langley sweat. Then he leveled his hard gaze on the doctor.

“Someone wants Tarrant Eddington dead,” Brody spelled out, his voice low and dangerous. “And they’re using someone very precious to me as a bargaining chip to get the job done.”

Langley’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze darting to the door like he was considering making a run for it. But there was nowhere to go that Brody wouldn’t chase him down.

Brody took a step closer. “Who’s behind it?”